Because January is not the most exciting month for games (until the end of the month, that is) I’m going to suggest a Twisted Pixel game called Comic Jumper, unfortunately only for Xbox Live Arcade. (If there are any great PSN games out there, email me.) Control the Captain and his sidekick, attached to his chest, and try to get his canceled comic back into publication by jumping and guest starring in other comics. 800 MSP.
Amy
Release Date: Xbox 360 (1/11), PC (3/31), PS3 (1/17/11)
“From IGN: In the small town of Silver City (Midwest, USA) in the year 2034, a comet strike has brought havoc on humanity and unleashed a deadly virus that has infected almost everyone. Lana has just regained consciousness in the midst of all the mayhem. The world she once identified with seems to have been torn to Hell, and most of the people she knew have now become part of a wild horde. Lana feels the virus beginning to infect her and knows she must run as far as possible to escape the nightmare. But then there is Amy, a seemingly defenseless eight-year-old autistic girl who has curious powers. Together, they must fight or run from the infected humans, demons and the military, in the hope of not only saving each other, but also the future of humanity.
From the original creator of Flashback, Amy is an innovative survival horror title. The cooperative gameplay featured in Amy is a deep and unique system that requires players to strategize in order to protect Amy and keep both characters alive. Unlike other games with a secondary character, Amy is neither a super warrior, nor a docile character that follows along. Players must use Amy’s size and special abilities to their advantage by keeping her close in order to ward off the virus, and having her complete tasks that Lana can’t. For both to survive, Lana must stop at nothing to keep Amy safe.”
Now this game… well, it’s certainly ambitious, and has a multi-platform release! So that makes it something. This was compared to Ico at 2011’s E3. We like Ico, and if this is Ico with zombies… maybe this one will be good. Really good. Get it now on 360, you’ll pay a little more on PSN on the 17th, and if you have a PC and also some consoles why the hell are you still playing games on your PC? Just kidding! I like to give a good-natured ribbin’ to PCers. It will be available on Steam in March.
Keep in mind that this isn’t the only survival horror title coming out, Silent Hill is releasing something this month too. (More on that later.)
RP-T+ for Rating Pending, Targeting a Rating of Teen or Above
Genre: Adventure
Developer: VectorCell
Choplifter HD
Release Date: Jan 11, 2012
From IGN: “Choplifter returns with 21st century graphics and a new twist on classic game play, allowing you to take control of a variety of different helicopters on over 20 missions. Bank, hover and sidestep around danger to drop down and rescue innocent lives.
After a daring rescue saving several trapped oil rig technicians from a devastating gulf accident, you have been asked to join an elite international helicopter rescue team known as C.H.O.P. R. (Coordinated Helicopter Operations, Preservation and Rescue). As a pilot of C.H.O.P.R. you will be trained to handle any situation: from distressed ship rescue to captured military prisoner extraction.”
I have absolutely nothing to say about this, other than the fact that I miss that game where you make that little guy jump from the helicopter and he lands in the wagon full of hay –well, that’s your goal at least. I guess I could say that the official website is really, really excited about this game. At least someone is.
Exclusively on: Xbox 360
T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
Genre: Action
Publisher: inXile entertainment
Developer: inXile entertainment
ScaryGirl
Release Date: January 18, 2012
From IGN: Based on Nathan Jurevicius’ Scarygirl graphic novel — winner of the 2009 Aurealis Award for Best Illustrated Book/Graphic novel — Scarygirl presents a wondrous adventure into a distinctive and beautifully bizarre world. The main character Scarygirl is an abandoned child with a tentacle arm who dresses like a pirate, and is haunted by a strange man in her dreams. She sets out into the world to discover the meaning behind her bad dreams, but Scarygirl is hardly helpless, as she has a tentacle-powered arsenal up her sleeve.
During her adventure, Scarygirl will be aided by her friends and guardians from the graphic novel, Blister the giant octopus and Bunniguru the mystical, kung-fu rabbit. Her friends and an ever-improving arsenal of combat moves will help her face down enemies like the adorably deadly hedgehogs of the Owl Woods, the violent Goat Clan along the Old Man Mountains, Hairclump spiders deep in the Stinky Swamp, and the most enemiest enemies of all — the clueless crossing guards around Bad Town!
Sounds interesting with this description, and visually it’s… unique, though it makes me think of Fairytale Fights (a terribly terrible game). Don’t let the cute factor deter you away from this game, macho people , it looks fun, and demos are free. It’s definitely one to try if you like the idea of controlling tentacle-armed little girls through areas that sound like the opposite of Candy Land. And here’s a link to the book: Amazon.
Exclusively on: Xbox 360
E10+: Cartoon Violence, Use of Tobacco
Genre: Adventure
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: TikGames
Local Play: 2 Co-op